Flexible pipe



Fb.'5,l1946. l F. E. SWMN 2,394,270

FLEXIBLE PIPE Filed vJune 2o, 1944 Patented Feb. 5, 1946 2,394,270 FLEXIBLE RIPE Frank Edward swaimEwell, yEngland Application June 20. 1944, Serial No. 541,237 In Great Britain January 31, 1944 Claims. V(Cl. 13S-.56)

This invention relates to a exible pipe.

My main object is to provide an improved pipe of this kind for carrying hydraulic fluid at high pressures-i. e., a heavy-duty pipe.

A further object is to provide an improved pipe which may be used as an armoured covering for electric cables, transmission wires or the like.

A further object is to provide two such pipes which may be used at the ends of a shar't to provide therewith a constant-velocity, universal, torque-transmitting joint.

Various arrangements according to the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a preferred form of flexible pipe;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevational View of a similar sort of pipe when partly flexed;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevational view of some of the rigid washers shown axially spaced from one another by rings;

Figure 4 is a similar view showing an alternative arrangement and also showing how the washers may be held in position, for example, during the moulding operation;

Figure 5 is an end elevation of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation showing an alternative arrangement as applied to a flexible hose of a vacuum cleaner; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of other arrangements.

Like reference numerals are applied through- .out the various figures to denote similar parts as far as possible.

In Figure 1 the radially rigid washers I2, which may be of metal or of hard rubber or the like dependent upon the degree of strength which is required, are dished to be of part-spherical shape and their central openings receive and abut a rubber tube I3. Between each washer I2 is a dished rubber washer I4 both faces of which are adhered as by bonding to the adjacent faces of the washers I2. (The term rubber is used herein to include articial or natural rubber, and products incorporating the same.) At the ends are sockets adaptors I6, I1 (which in this instance are shown as having screw-threaded bores to receive attachment nipples I8) provided with convex and concave surfaces, respectively, which are bonded to the end rubber washers I4. Figure 2 indicates how the parts move when the pipe is slightly flexed, and in this example the rubber tube I3a is formed integrally with the rubber washers I4.

Thus, Figures 1 and 2 disclose a pipe which essentially comprises axially spaced rigid washers and interposed exible washers held with both faces in contact with the adjacent rigid washers.

If desired, the rigid washers I2 may be axially spaced from one another by means of rigid rings 20, as shown by Figure 3, and when the washers are of metal these rings if of brass or aluminium will provide an electric bond. (The rubber washers I4 and tube, I3, are omitted from Figure 3 for the sake of simplicity.)

The washers I2 (Figure 3) may be provided with openings 22 for lightening purposes. These openings; as will be seen from Figure 4, can receive a length of cord 23 passed up and down the pipe and through openings in the flanges 24 of the adaptors I6, II. In this Way the rigid washers I2 can be properly located whilst the rubber `is being moulded in position, the cord being under tension. Thereafter, the cord can be withdrawn, if desired.

In an alternative arrangement, the spacing is elected substantially in the manner shown by Figure 4 but without the use of spacing rings 20 (as shown in Figure 3). The adaptors I6, I'I can then be relatively twisted to a desired extent, thereby shortening the distance between them and therefore the spacing of the washers I2 from oneanother. The cord 23 may, if desired, be of metal, and it may be left in position after the rubber moulding operation to provide an electric bond.

In a modication of this arrangement a stack of alternate flexible and rigid washers is built up `l and is lined with a rubber tube I3, and while the whole is subjected to axial compression the cable 23 is tightened and its ends are locked permanently together. On removal of the end load the flexible washers are left in compression, to make a fluid seal with the adjacent rigid washers, and the cable 23 is left in a state of tension.

In the construction of Figure 6, where no high internal pressure is to be withstood, the rubber tube I3 of Figure l is replaced by a canvas tube 26 the ends of which are iiared, as shown at 21, and clamped between an end socket 28 and the adjacent rigid washer I2. The parts are further secured together by means of a sleeve 29 which is secured to the socket 28 and which has parts indented, as shown at 30, against the outer peripheries of the end rubber washers I4.

In the modication of Figure 7, all the washers I2 are part-spherical,l radially-rigid washers which are slidingly supported against one another between an internal rubber tube I3 and an eX- ternal canvas sleeve 32. The latter is clamped What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A flexible pipe which comprises axially spaced part-spherical rigid Washers, interposed part-spherical exible washers, and means hold--` ing the latter washers with both facesin contact with the adjacent rigid Washers.

2. A exible pipe comprising a rubber tube, axially spaced part-spherical rigid washers, and

part-spherical rubber Washers interposed between the rigid washers and bonded on both faces thereto, said rigid and rubber washers supporting said tube along its length.

3. A flexible pipe, according to claim 1, in which all the washers are correspondingly dished,

the pipe having at its ends rigid adaptors with.

correspondingly-dished concave and convex faces, respectively, held in contact with the adjacent faces of the end Iiexible washers.

4. A flexible pipe comprising a rubber tube, axially spaced part-spherical rigid washers, partspherical rubber washers interposed between the rigid washers, said washers supporting the tube along its length and ali of the Washers being Ycorrespondingly dished, end adaptors, and a length of cable passed up and down the pipe and through said end adaptors to hold said rubber washers in compression.

5. AV flexible pipe which comprises axially vspaced rigid means which are arcuate in cross section about the median line of the pipe, interposed fiexible means of similar cross-section and similarlyrdisposed, and means holding the rigid and exible means with their adjacent faces in contact.

- FRANK EDWARD SWAIN. 

